So, the crane. We all know that, yes, you can use it to buy the first-level improvement for free. And, yes, we all know that you can only use it for one improvement (this clarification was made in later editions of Mayfair's rules).

The question I have: suppose you have both cranes in your hand. Can you use both of them to buy a second-level improvement for free (assuming you already have the first-level improvement built)? Why or why not?

I'll point out as a side note that the text on the card can make things a bit confusing because of the translation issue. One instance: the engineer card says "You may immediately build a city wall at no cost." There's no need for "immediately" to be in there, and I've seen it cause confusion for first-time players who thought that they could build a city wall as soon as they got the card, regardless of whose turn it was.

My version of the almanac gives no help on this question. I'd be interested to see if your version of the alamanc helps any, or if magid's version helps (she has yet another version of the rules, having bought her game very recently).

I believe you can use two cranes to get a second grade upgrade (assuming you have a first level).

If you can use one card to get a first level, it follows that you don't need to have another commodity card in your hand, to use the crane. Using that logic, it would follow that you should simply be able to use two cranes even without a commodity in your hand as well for the second upgrade.

Do you see any distinction for a second level upgrade with no commodities in hand than a first level with no commodities in hand?

Card and almanac text

The card: "When building a city improvement this turn, (abbey, town hall, etc.) you may pay one less commodity."

The almanac: "This ability lasts only for the duration of the turn in which the card was played. The advantage applies only to city improvements (marketplaces, town hall, etc.) and not to building cities themselves. The players must still pay the normal resource cost for building a city."

Re: Card and almanac text

As a side note, this almanac wording is why we used to play that you paid one less for any city improvements you built that turn. Subsequent editions of the rules changed the almanac wording to preculde that (I believe I first saw this in treacle_well's set.

Re: Card and almanac text

Re: Card and almanac text

That's weird. I'm pretty sure treacle_well has a different almanac wording. I would have thought yours would be a later edition of the rules than hers, and would thus have the same updated wording. Weird.

Still without up-to-date almanac info, I think my logic goes something like this.

Basically my sense of game play is that you play one card, finish the action, and then can play another card. So, I think in order to play the 2nd Crane card you have to have already completed play with the first. That means that you don't have the opportunity to "add" the "discount" of the 2nd card directly to the action of the first.

Basically my sense of game play is that you play one card, finish the action, and then can play another card.

How does the merchant fleet fit into your sense of game play? I don't have the exact quote, but the idea is that it gives you the ability to make 2-for-1 trades for the rest of your turn. Obviously you'd be able to play other cards in between making 2-for-1 trades.

Re: Merchant Fleet

This ability lasts only for the duration of the turn. You may only purchase one improvement (market, town hall, etc.) for this reduced price, and you must pay the normal price for building cities themselves. You may use this ability to buy a 1st level improvement (the market, the town hall, or the abbey) for free.

Re: Merchant Fleet

OK, since the rules allow the a 1st level upgrade without paying anything other than the card itself, I would say that logic would then allow the second level upgrade to occur with 2 cards. (3rd level with 2 cards and one commodity, etc)

Text from my C&K almanac. This may also have some bearing on wildraven's comment.

This ability lasts only for the duration of the turn. You may only purchase one improvement (market, town hall, etc.) for this reduced price, and you must pay the normal price for building cities themselves. You may use this ability to buy a 1st level improvement (the market, the town hall, or the abbey) for free.